Can Horses Eat Oranges? Giving A Dose Of Vitamin C

Horses are known to love eating a plethora of fruits. As a matter of fact, they have been known to gorge on bananas, pears and even whole watermelons. But it does not stop there. Many horses are also known to eat even citrus fruits especially if they are not too tart or sour.

Giving fruit treats to horses are actually a great way for them to enjoy new flavors without having empty calories as well as an overload of sugar. Since fruits can contain vitamins and minerals, it can also be used to provide your equine friends with nutritional support.

Can Horses Eat Oranges?

Horses can eat oranges and they can even eat the orange peel. It is very safe for horses to eat oranges and they are also known to be able to digest the peel easily. While some horses have learned to love its tangy and sweet taste as well as the bitter flavor of the peel, some will not like it at all.

There are also horses that will only eat oranges for as long as it has been peeled first. In most cases, what draws the horse’s attention to orange is its wonderful aroma. Most experts recommend that you should give oranges as treats simply because it contains a lot of vitamin C and antioxidants.

This will help ensure that the horse will be able to enjoy the treat as well as get additional nutrients in order to stay strong and healthy. Oranges also contain a lot of fluids, allowing the horse to stay hydrated. With regards to the orange peel, many actually recommend that you let them eat it.

This is simply because the rind actually contains flavonoids that can help fight oxidative stress in the horses’ body. The rind can also be used to help alleviate inflammation, fight tumors and can even help horses fight against fatigue. Letting the horse eat the whole oranges can also help improve its immunity.

Things To Consider When Feeding Oranges

If you want to let horses eat the peel, you need to clean the oranges properly. This will help remove any contaminants and toxins on the surface so that the horse will not suffer from any health problems. You should also cut the oranges into quarters so that the horse will not be choked by it.

So you can avoid disrupting the horse’s appetite, you should only give the horses 1 – 2 oranges in a week. Oranges can contain a lot of sugar and giving the horse too much of it can lead to health problems such as upset stomach or discomfort.

Conclusion

Oranges contain a lot of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This fruit can be used as treats that will not just brighten the horse’s day, but also help the horse get additional nutrient support. Horses love to eat ripe oranges and they also love the orange peels which contain a lot of flavonoids.

Oranges however, are not capable of providing horses with all of the nutrients that they need to survive. This is why the fruit should not be given as main part of their regular diet. Giving too much oranges can also lead to stomach problems, poor feedings and nutritional issues.

Do you give oranges to your horses? Let us know more about it in the comment section.

My name is Emily Taylor, gardening is my passion and I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone. I know that there are millions of people out there want their backyard and garden be attractive just like their front yard, so I am here to help you create your own backyard paradise.